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FROGMAN

When I was starting to read comics as a kid, around 5 or 6, the creators of a comic book meant nothing. In fact, they took up extra space on that intro page that could have been somebody doing something cool. I vaguely started to know a few names on some books, mostly artists because I wanted to draw more than anything. I slowly became aware of who Ditko was via Dr. Strange, Jack "The King" Kirby on FF, John Buscema on a number of things, Curt Swan on Superman... but even being aware of who was working on any individual comic was rare.

Years later I would look back at issues I loved and realize "wow, so that was young George Perez? Cool! I had no idea." I had to learn names like Gene Colan and Neal Adams long after I had actually read and enjoyed their work.

I think one of the first writers I came to know was John Byrne because he pissed me off so badly when he replaced Ben with the She-Hulk in the FF. (I've almost forgiven him.) I started to learn and know other writers all in the early to mid 80s, I guess, but it still wasn't anything I really kept track of.

Fast forward to today and all of the talk is about the creative teams. Most of us not only know who these creators are, we will buy books for the creators alone and not the properties while avoiding others despite the properties. The writers and artists are bigger stars than the characters sometimes. I wonder if this is a natural progression.

FROGMAN

When I was starting to read comics as a kid, around 5 or 6, the creators of a comic book meant nothing. In fact, they took up extra space on that intro page that could have been somebody doing something cool. I vaguely started to know a few names on some books, mostly artists because I wanted to draw more than anything. I slowly became aware of who Ditko was via Dr. Strange, Jack "The King" Kirby on FF, John Buscema on a number of things, Curt Swan on Superman... but even being aware of who was working on any individual comic was rare.

Years later I would look back at issues I loved and realize "wow, so that was young George Perez? Cool! I had no idea." I had to learn names like Gene Colan and Neal Adams long after I had actually read and enjoyed their work.

I think one of the first writers I came to know was John Byrne because he pissed me off so badly when he replaced Ben with the She-Hulk in the FF. (I've almost forgiven him.) I started to learn and know other writers all in the early to mid 80s, I guess, but it still wasn't anything I really kept track of.

Fast forward to today and all of the talk is about the creative teams. Most of us not only know who these creators are, we will buy books for the creators alone and not the properties while avoiding others despite the properties. The writers and artists are bigger stars than the characters sometimes. I wonder if this is a natural progression.

Outhouse Drafter

I would say that the moment I began to notice comic book creators was when I actually worked at a comic book store. When I was interacting with regular customers on a day to day basis, it became necessary for me to learn as many facets of comics books as I could. I already loved comics to begin with but working for a comic store definitely gave me a deeper appreciation for the industry as a whole.

Outhouse Drafter

I would say that the moment I began to notice comic book creators was when I actually worked at a comic book store. When I was interacting with regular customers on a day to day basis, it became necessary for me to learn as many facets of comics books as I could. I already loved comics to begin with but working for a comic store definitely gave me a deeper appreciation for the industry as a whole.

Rain Partier

Like the OP when I was a kid I could have given a shit less who wrote or drew the comics I was reading. I think I really took notice of the men behind the works with Jim Lee. He is the first artist that I knew by name and recognized instantly, then would come McFarlane and all the guys that jumped and formed Image. All those guys I took note of because they basically made themselves standout from the rest of the pack, like they were more important than the characters they were working with, they quickly realized they were not, well most of the did anyways.

Rain Partier

Like the OP when I was a kid I could have given a shit less who wrote or drew the comics I was reading. I think I really took notice of the men behind the works with Jim Lee. He is the first artist that I knew by name and recognized instantly, then would come McFarlane and all the guys that jumped and formed Image. All those guys I took note of because they basically made themselves standout from the rest of the pack, like they were more important than the characters they were working with, they quickly realized they were not, well most of the did anyways.

FROGMAN

Two years after I picked up my first comic. It was the early 90s and my favorite characters were Spider-man and the X-Men and pretty soon I was all about McFarlane (who's work I recognized from a Spider-man puzzle I had) and Lee.

FROGMAN

Two years after I picked up my first comic. It was the early 90s and my favorite characters were Spider-man and the X-Men and pretty soon I was all about McFarlane (who's work I recognized from a Spider-man puzzle I had) and Lee.

cheese

I always knew -- while it appears that some books might've been ghost-written or drawn back in the day (think Marvel Bullpen), it was always fairly obvious that knowing who produced the book was a barometer of what you'd be seeing and reading.

cheese

I always knew -- while it appears that some books might've been ghost-written or drawn back in the day (think Marvel Bullpen), it was always fairly obvious that knowing who produced the book was a barometer of what you'd be seeing and reading.

That's not good or bad. It's just a fact.

*Sniff, sniff* "Damn it, Diana...If I'd known they would trade us in for a JT Krul-written Captain Atom and "The Savage Hawkman," I'd have let Superboy-Prime destroy all reality."

"Superman flies and is really strong...what the fuck else do you need to know?!" -- Hitler, expressing his displeasure about DC rebooting and complaints about continuity

<( ' . ' )>

mrorangesoda wrote:Two years after I picked up my first comic. It was the early 90s and my favorite characters were Spider-man and the X-Men and pretty soon I was all about McFarlane (who's work I recognized from a Spider-man puzzle I had) and Lee.

Yeah I pretty much always had McFarlane and Larsen in my head since my brother was a big fan of them.

I didn't start actively seeking out works by a certain creator until I started actually reading comics in university. After reading New X-Men, I sought out Grant Morrison's work.

<( ' . ' )>

mrorangesoda wrote:Two years after I picked up my first comic. It was the early 90s and my favorite characters were Spider-man and the X-Men and pretty soon I was all about McFarlane (who's work I recognized from a Spider-man puzzle I had) and Lee.

Yeah I pretty much always had McFarlane and Larsen in my head since my brother was a big fan of them.

I didn't start actively seeking out works by a certain creator until I started actually reading comics in university. After reading New X-Men, I sought out Grant Morrison's work.